Royal & the Serpent performs during the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on October 05, 2025 in Austin, Texas. (Amy E. Price/FilmMagic)
After several EPs and one-off singles, Royal & the Serpent has finally announced her debut album.
The “Overwhelmed” artist’s first official full-length record is called Emptiness is Godly and is due out May 8. The record will follow a character named “R,” which you can hear in two newly released songs called “Favorite Person” and “Fiona.”
“‘Favorite Person’ is a big reveal as we enter into the world of Emptiness is Godly,'” Royal says. “This song is the underlying theme to our story. Main character ‘R’ finds herself entangled between two romances. Subject ‘R’ exhibits as follows (but not limited to): confusion, guilt, self-awareness, remorse.”
She continues, “‘Fiona’ is ‘R”s experience of nostalgia. Subject ‘R’ exhibits as follows (but not limited to): yearning, benevolence, grief, hope.”
Frontman Chris Daughtry tells ABC Audio that the song that became “THE BOTTOM” was a result of combining different elements of past unused ideas.
“It was very synonymous with the theme of the song, kinda resurrecting yourself from the dead and finding your own identity again,” Chris says. “This song went through all these different twists and turns until it found its identity in what it is now.”
“THE BOTTOM” marks the third Daughtry track to hit #1 on Mainstream Rock Airplay after notching their first two in 2024 with “PIECES” and “ARTIFICIAL.” Getting that first #1, Chris says, was very meaningful to him.
“Out of all the #1s or whatever chart positions I’ve ever had, this felt the most important to me, because it was on my terms,” Chris says. “It was me following my gut and my instinct to get back to me and listen to my voice and not placate to everyone else.”
It’s probably no coincidence that Daughtry began lighting up the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart after shifting to a more heavier rock direction around the time of their 2021 album, Dearly Beloved. On past records, they went into more pop and adult contemporary sounds. That said, Chris doesn’t regret any of the albums he’s put out in his career.
“I feel like all of those were moments in time and lessons that I had to learn to get to where I am now,” Chris says. “I feel like I don’t know if I would be exactly where we are right now and be so sure of it if I didn’t go through the things that made me question everything in the first place.”
Paul Rodgers performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT)
Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers is set to perform at the upcoming Adopt the Arts Sound & Vision Awards, which is honoring both him and Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler.
Rodgers shared on Instagram, “The plan is for me to play a couple of songs. Rehearsals start soon.”
The event is happening March 2 at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California. Guns N’ Roses drummer and Adopt the Arts founder Matt Sorum will be the night’s musical director, with an all-star lineup performing the music of the night’s honorees.
Musicians confirmed for the event include Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes, Billy Idol guitarist and collaborator Steve Stevens, Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, Stone Temple Pilots’ Robert DeLeo and more. Butler is expected to perform as well.
The Adopt the Arts Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing underserved elementary schools with high-quality music education. Rodgers previously worked with them in 2025 when he joined students of ATA’s The Changels honor choir for a new version of Bad Company’s “Rock and Roll Fantasy.”
Rodgers and Bad Company were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November, but he was unable to attend the ceremony due to his health.
Paul Rodgers performs onstage during the 2023 CMT Music Awards at Moody Center on April 02, 2023 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/Getty Images for CMT)
Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers is set to perform at the upcoming Adopt the Arts Sound & Vision Awards, which is honoring both him and Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler.
Rodgers shared on Instagram, “The plan is for me to play a couple of songs. Rehearsals start soon.”
The event is happening March 2 at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, California. Guns N’ Roses drummer and Adopt the Arts founder Matt Sorum will be the night’s musical director, with an all-star lineup performing the music of the night’s honorees.
Musicians confirmed for the event include Deep Purple’s Glenn Hughes, Billy Idol guitarist and collaborator Steve Stevens, Bon Jovi guitarist Phil X, Halestorm’s Lzzy Hale, Slipknot’s Corey Taylor, Extreme’s Nuno Bettencourt, Stone Temple Pilots’ Robert DeLeo and more. Butler is expected to perform as well.
The Adopt the Arts Foundation is a nonprofit dedicated to providing underserved elementary schools with high-quality music education. Rodgers previously worked with them in 2025 when he joined students of ATA’s The Changels honor choir for a new version of Bad Company’s “Rock and Roll Fantasy.”
Rodgers and Bad Company were inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in November, but he was unable to attend the ceremony due to his health.
Baz Luhrmann’s new documentary, EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert, is now in IMAX theaters and will arrive in regular theaters on Feb. 27. It features long-lost footage from Elvis’ 1970s Las Vegas residency and other concerts from that period, narrated by Elvis via a previously unheard interview.
Luhrmann tells ABC Audio Elvis was talking about his life “in such an unguarded way” in the interview. He adds, “And in that moment, we went, ‘Well, [documentaries] about Elvis are always talking heads … they’re always people saying, you know, ‘I put gas in Elvis’ car one day, and he looked at me, and I wrote a book.’ And we just wanted to get out of the way.”
Between the self-narration and the candid rehearsal footage, Luhrmann says people have been surprised at how Elvis comes across in the film.
“I think everyone universally says, ‘I had no idea he was so funny and self-effacing, and humble and kind, and really, really such a great musician,'” he says.
The film also explores the notion that Elvis’ Vegas shows during that period were “cheesy.”
“You cannot see this film and deny the uniqueness of the talent, the energy, and the absolute spiritual commitment to the audience and the music,” Luhrmann says. But that commitment turned into what the director believes was an addiction: Between 1969 and 1977, Elvis performed 1,100 shows.
“I think what happens is, the only love he really trusts is the love he gets across the footlights and the love he gives back to the fans,” Luhrmann says. “And so the only really safe and comfortable place for Elvis is on that stage.”
Despite all those performances, Luhrmann notes Elvis never got to fulfill his dream of touring overseas.
“He never got that world tour,” says Luhrmann. “In fact, the world tour that he dreamed of is what he’s getting now with this film.”
While maybe not the greatest of all time, GOAT‘s box office haul was enough to propel it to #1.
The animated sports comedy, produced by and featuring the voice of NBA star Stephen Curry, earned $17 million in its second week in theaters, according to Box Office Mojo. That was good enough to dethrone Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi’s Wuthering Heights, which fell two #2 with $14.2 million after debuting at #1 over Valentine’s Day weekend.
The highest-grossing new movie of the weekend was I Can Only Imagine 2, which landed at #3 with $8 million. The film and its predecessor, 2018’s I Can Only Imagine, are inspired by the Christian band MercyMe.
Two more holdovers rounded out the top five: Crime 101 took #4 with about $5.8 million, while Send Help slotted in at #5 with $4.5 million.
Here are the top 10 films at the box office:
1. GOAT — $17 million 2. Wuthering Heights –$14.2 million 3. I Can Only Imagine 2 — $8 million 4. Crime 101 — $5.773 million 5. Send Help — $4.5 million 6. How to Make a Killing — $3.561 million 7. EPiC: Elvis Presley in Concert — $3.25 million 8. Solo Mio — $2.557 million 9. Zootopia 2 — $2.3 million 10. Avatar: Fire and Ash — $1.8 million
Several stars are confirmed to join the cast of the revival of Scrubs. Deadline reports that Neil Flynn and Christa Miller, who portrayed The Janitor and Jordan on the original show, are going to reprise their roles in this new series. Also joining as guest stars are Rachel Bilson, Andy Ridings and Lisa Gilroy …
A full-length version of the popular web series Childish Deano has been picked up by Hulu. Variety reports that eight episodes of the half-hour animated comedy, which will now be titled Deano, are on the way. It comes from creators Dean Thomas and David Ferrier, with both men writing the show and Thomas providing the voice of the lead, titular character. Bluey creator Joe Brumm will executive produce the series, which serves as his first adult animated show producing credit …
Tell Me Lies may have ended, but at least it went out on top. Deadline reports the season 3 finale of the series garnered over 3.5 million views in its first day on Disney+ and Hulu. This means it’s up almost 70% from the season 3 premiere’s same-day audience …
Nurses on strike rally outside Gov. Hochul’s midtown office after marching from Grand Central Monday, Feb. 2, 2026, in Manhattan, New York. (Barry Williams/New York Daily News/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — The largest nurses strike in New York City history ended this weekend when the last holdouts in the 41-day labor action overwhelmingly voted to ratify a contract and agreed to return to work, officials said.
Around 4,200 members of the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) employed by the private New York-Presbyterian system approved on Saturday a contract that includes more than a 12% increase in salaries over the life of the three-year deal.
The nurses and management of the New York-Presbyterian system also agreed to improve enforceable safe staffing standards, boost protection for nurses from workplace violence and, for the first time ever, provide safeguards for employees against artificial intelligence.
The union previously said the hospitals had threatened to cut health care benefits for frontline nurses and roll back safe staffing standards that were won by nurses after a three-day strike in January 2023.
The labor agreement was approved after about 10,500 NYSNA nurses employed by the private Montefiore, Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside and West hospitals approved a similar contract last week. Some nurses in the system began returning to work on Saturday, officials said.
About 93% of the NYSNA nurses in the New York-Presbyterian system voted to ratify the contract, and about 7% rejected the deal, which was announced on Thursday, according to the union.
Nearly 15,000 nurses in total walked off their jobs on Jan. 12 after declaring a stalemate in negotiations with management for the private hospital systems, making it the largest nurses’ strike in New York City history.
“This is a proud moment for our union,” NYSNA President Nancy Hagans said in a statement. “We are so happy with the wins we achieved, and now the fight to enforce these contracts and hold our employers accountable begins.”
Hagans added, “NYSNA nurses showed what it means to advocate for patients, and this moment will go down in history as a win for our communities, in the fight for healthcare justice, and for the labor movement.”
In a statement Saturday evening, management of NewYork-Presbyterian confirmed the contract had been ratified by the last group of striking nurses.
“We are pleased to share that we have a new ratified contract with the New York State Nurses Association (NYSNA) and look forward to our nurses’ return to the hospital,” management of the New York-Presbyterian system said. “The new contract reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play as part of our exceptional care teams.”
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul also expressed relief that the strike was finally over.
“Nurses are the backbone of our health care system. I am grateful that NYSNA has overwhelmingly ratified an agreement with New York Presbyterian recognizing the exceptionally difficult work our nurses do day in and out,” Hochul said in a statement.
The governor added, “Throughout this process, I have made clear that my top priority is protecting patients and providing continuity of care. With these agreements now ratified and nurses going back to work, I am confident we can continue to build on the progress made under this administration.”
An ABC News graphic from Sunday, Feb. 22, 2026, on the expected winter storm. (ABC News)
(NEW YORK) — A highly impactful and potentially historic nor’easter is expected to quickly strengthen as it collects itself offshore near Delaware, Maryland and Virginia on Sunday, leading to major and potentially extreme impacts for millions along the I-95 corridor.
More than 50 million Americans were on alert on Sunday morning for winter storm conditions beginning later Sunday and continuing into Monday.
Blizzard warnings are in effect for more than 35 million Americans from Cape Charles, Virginia, to Dover, Delaware, up to the I-95 corridor from Philadelphia to Boston for increased confidence in snowfall of more than a foot and gusty winds that will likely cause blizzard conditions. The entire states of Delaware, New Jersey and Rhode Island were included.
Winter storm warnings were in effect for parts of central Virginia and Maryland, east-central Pennsylvania, southern New York, northern Connecticut, west-central Massachusetts, southern New Hampshire and Vermont, and southern Maine for increased confidence of snowfall.
Some areas are expecting about 6 inches, while some areas may potentially see more than a foot, as well as gusty winds that will likely cause blowing snow and whiteout conditions.
Those conditions could hit major cities, including Baltimore; Harrisburg and Scranton, Pennsylvania; Albany, New York; Hartford, Connecticut; Concord, New Hampshire; and Portland, Maine.
On Sunday afternoon, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed a disaster declaration ahead of the evening’s storm, saying it will allow “our state agencies have every resource they need to prepare and keep people safe.”
Shapiro asked people to stay off the roads and stressed that people should take the storm seriously and seriously and stay inside.
Conditions are expected to begin to worsen in the Philadelphia area later today, the governor said.
New York City and Philadelphia were under a blizzard warning for total snowfall reaching between 12 and more than 18 inches, with potential winds gusting up to 55+ mph, causing whiteout conditions and difficult-to-impossible travel conditions later Sunday through Monday.
New York City hasn’t been under a blizzard warning since March 2017, close to a decade ago. The last such warning for Philadelphia was in January 2016, more than a decade ago.
“The snow is back,” New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said on social media early on Sunday. “But New York is ready.”
At a press conference later Sunday afternoon, Mamdani announced a state of emergency for the city and a travel ban beginning at 9 p.m. Sunday and ending at 12 p.m. Monday. New York City schools will also be closed Monday, Mamdani said.
According to the National Weather Service, this is the first time that all of New Jersey has been under a blizzard warning since January 1996.
The entire state of Delaware is under a blizzard warning for the first time since Feb. 10, 2010, more than 15 years ago, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 7,400 flights have been canceled for Sunday and Monday, according to flight tracker FlightAware. Over half of all flights at John F. Kennedy and LaGuardia airports have already been canceled ahead of the storm.
Airports in Newark, Boston, Philadelphia, D.C. and Baltimore have also seen significant cancellations. Between 88% and 93% of flights scheduled for Monday at New York airports and in Boston have been canceled as of noon Sunday.
Coastal Flood alerts were also up from coastal Delaware, Maryland and Virginia to the Jersey Shore, as well as from Long Island to the coast of southern and eastern New England for minor to moderate coastal flooding during high tide.
CLEAR with TSA PreCheck security line at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) in Atlanta, Georgia. (Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
(WASHINGTON) — The Department of Homeland Security has abruptly reversed a decision to temporarily suspend the Transportation Security Administration’s PreCheck and Global Entry programs due to what the agency described as lapse in funding.
Less than a day after the suspension order was announced by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, the TSA said that PreCheck at the nation’s airports will remain open.
“At this time, TSA PreCheck remains operational with no change for the traveling public. As staffing constraints arise, TSA will evaluate on a case by case basis and adjust operations accordingly,” a TSA spokesperson said in a statement to ABC.
The TSA added that courtesy escorts for members of Congress have been suspended and that those resources “can be directed towards keeping the flying public safe.”
For a few hours on Sunday morning, several airports, including Los Angeles International Airport and St. Louis Lambert International Airport, reported TSA precheck closures.
Sources familiar with the issue told ABC News that airports are now being advised by the TSA that they can keep their precheck lanes open if they have enough staffing.
Earlier Sunday, Noem released a statement saying that the precheck service was being temporarily suspended.
“TSA and CBP are prioritizing the general traveling population at our airports and ports of entry and suspending courtesy and special privilege escorts,” Noem said in a statement.
The two programs, which allow expedited clearance processes for pre-vetted domestic and international travelers, were expected to be suspended starting at 6 a.m. ET Sunday, according to a DHS official.
The initial plan called for DHS personnel assigned to these programs to be redirected to assist the broader traveling public, as travelers braced for longer lines to clear security.
The decision to suspend the programs came as an anticipated winter storm had already prompted the cancelation of more than 7,000 flights across the country. The decision and its quick reversal also comes just weeks before the spring break travel rush.
In addition, Noem also announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency will also halt “all non-disaster related response to prioritize disasters,” underscoring the impact of the upcoming winter storm.
Before the decision to suspend the PreCheck program was reversed, a ranking member on the House Homeland Security Committee, Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson, immediately blasted the move.
“This is Trump and Kristi Noem purposely punishing the American people and using them as pawns for their sadistic political games,” Thompson said in a statement. “TSA PreCheck and Global Entry REDUCE airport lines and ease the burden on DHS staff who are working without pay because of Trump’s abuse of the Department and killing of American citizens,” he said.
“Trump and Kristi are making your lives harder — and your travel less safe — all on purpose because they know you don’t trust them. They pulled these games with FEMA disaster response last week, now this madness. They would rather force Americans to miss their travel waiting in long lines at the airport than stop Trump’s secret police from shooting our neighbors.”
U.S. Travel, a non-profit organization that represents the nation’s travel industry also expressed its “disappointment” and criticized the move in a post on X writing, “Travelers should be prioritized, not leveraged. Travel is the gateway to the American economy and Americans should not have their mobility, security or travel experience diminished because elected leaders fail to resolve their differences.”
The temporary suspension was first reported by the Washington Post.
